Pre Group Read Discussion
Talk Book Discussion : The Glass Room by Ann Cleeves
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1Andrew-theQM
What are you hoping for from this book?
Where did we last leave Vera (if you have read the other books in the series)?
Where did we last leave Vera (if you have read the other books in the series)?
2Carol420
The Crow Trap Book #1
This is how we were introduced to Vera Stanhop in the first book.
"She was a large woman-- big bones amply covered, a bulbous nose, man-sized feet. Her legs were bare and she wore leather sandals. Her square toes were covered in mud. Her face was blotched and pitted so Rachael thought she must suffer from some skin complaint or allergy. Over her clothes she wore a transparent mac and she stood there, the rain dripping from it onto the floor, grey hair sleeked dark to her forehead, like a middle-aged tripper caught in a sudden storm on Blackpool prom."
The story is set in the North Pennines on Black Law Farm is an isolated cottage, Baikie's Cottage.
Businessmen want to open a quarry nearby, and three young women are using Baikie's as a base for the environmental study they must conduct.for this to happen.
When Rachael, the team leader, arrives at Baikie's, she discovers the body of her friend, Bella Furness., who owns the farm.
From all appearances Bella has committed suicide...but Rachael finds that impossible to accept.
Soon two other young women arrive s a part of the and another death occurs,
This brings Vera Stanhope into the story line. We waited a VERY long time for Vera to ever make an appearance. Finally she shows up on page 230.
We were all in agreement that the one of the best parts of the book was the back stories for each of the young women.
There were 6 participants in the discussion with 2 - 5 star; 2-4.5 star and 2 -4 star ratings
Telling Tales Book # 2
It's been ten long years since Jeanie Long has been locked up for the murder of her friend, Abigail Mantel. Evidence has now come forward that proves Jeanie's innocence. The villagers of Elvet on the East Yorkshire coast know this means Abigail's killer is still at large, and the Yorkshire police believe it best to bring in an investigative team from outside to re-open the case.
Northumbria's Detective Inspector Vera Stanhope and her young Sergeant Joe find themselves the investigators sent to sift through all the witnesses' stories to piece together the truth. And what an entrance Vera makes. Emma and her husband are in church with their young child when Inspector Vera Stanhope of the Northumbria police appears in the story. It's right at the close of the first hymn when the back door closes with a bang and our Vera has arrived:
Vera and Joe find many inconsistencies in the reports. Seemingly the instigation was shoddy at best. Two of the leads on the original case left the force and are now living in the area. Both of them had seemed content with Jeanie Long's conviction...even anxious to get it over with.
The murdered girl's father is a businessman and no better than he has to be. Even the victim's best friend spends most of her time in La La Land when she's not drooling over the village blacksmith...and is unsure of what really went on ten years ago.
The ending was not what we were expecting but made sense and was believable,
There were 7 participants in the discussion with 1 /5 star rating; 3/ 4.5 star ratings and 3 /4 star ratings
Hidden Depths – Book# 3
The Book takes place on the Northumberland coast:
Luke Armstrong is a troubled boy who may be slightly autistic.
His only friend, Thomas, drowned several months ago despite Luke's best efforts to save him.
Luke's mother, Julie Armstrong, returns home from a night out to discover her daughter asleep and her son dead in the bathtub.
She first thinks suicide….but there are flowers strewn in the bath, floating on the water.
The police quickly establish that he was murdered.
Detective Inspector Vera Stanhope is assigned the case. Because Vera is plain, overweight, middle-aged, and drinks to a little too much, so it's very easy for people to underestimate her. Just because people dismiss her as a plodding lump, it doesn't mean that she doesn't have a very sharp mind.
The case takes on a new urgency when another body, that of Lily Marsh, a young student teacher, is found floating in a rock pool at the beach, her body posed in the same way as Luke's.
Lily leads a life that is anything but what you expect a teacher to lead…she is obsessive about the men she becomes involved with and Vera believes that she is currently having an affair that may have lead to her death.
Vera's attention turns to the group who found Lily, four men, Peter, Samuel, Gary and Clive….who share an interest in bird-watching.
All deny even knowing Lily and the other victim, Luke.
Vera becomes convinced that the solution lies somewhere in their lives…either past or present.
What if any is the connection between the two victims? Is there one…or have they been chosen at random?
When Luke’s sister, Laura, goes missing Vera’s team must hurry or take the very real chance of finding a third posed body.
There were 6 participants –Carol, Andrew, Sergei, Lynda, Eadie, & Lynsey
Ratings: 3/5 star; 1- 4.5 star; 1-4.25 star and 1 – 4.33 stars
Silent Voices – Book #4
This one reintroduces us to Vera Stanhope who feels a bit guilty that a good murder case always lifts her spirits.
A stab at getting fit puts Vera right in a crime scene this time, at the very fitness center where Vera has been hopelessly doing laps on the advice of her doctor.
As Vera sits in the steam room feeling as usual…very bulky and out of place, envying the woman with the long lean legs who seems so relaxed next to her—a little too relaxed she decides. Well, no wonder… woman is dead.
We see more of the point of view of a woman who is both vain and can’t-be-bothered but is always completely aware of her own shambling appearance and of what may lie beneath other people’s polished appearances.
The analysis and interviewing soon branches out from the fitness center and includes a number of potential suspects.
This is a “locked-room mystery”, at least to begin with as far as the murdered woman’s family and acquaintances are concerned….and soon Vera and are team begin to connect events and people.
The victim has been visiting a woman prisoner with a wretched history and trying to uncover her childhood memories.
Soon, Vera is unraveling a complex plot that leads back to the death of a child whom social workers were supposed to protect.
The larger question soon becomes who was responsible for the death, and what are the long-term repercussions that threaten more lives?
The child died by drowning, and water is the theme that runs through the book – how brief are the few short minutes that it takes for a toddler to get into danger. When floods engulf the district, the dangers intensify.
Inspector Joe Ashworth, a member of Vera’s team and one of the few people she feels close to….understands his boss, and much to his wife’s displeasure… disturbs his family life to work long hours on the investigation as he seems that Vera is energized by murder and soon brings the culprit to justice.
There were 6 participants in the discussion…Andrew, Sergei, Lynda, Eadie and Carol, Lyndsey
We all said of the 4 previous books we liked this one a bit more.
Ratings were: 2-4; 2- 4.5; 2-5
This is how we were introduced to Vera Stanhop in the first book.
"She was a large woman-- big bones amply covered, a bulbous nose, man-sized feet. Her legs were bare and she wore leather sandals. Her square toes were covered in mud. Her face was blotched and pitted so Rachael thought she must suffer from some skin complaint or allergy. Over her clothes she wore a transparent mac and she stood there, the rain dripping from it onto the floor, grey hair sleeked dark to her forehead, like a middle-aged tripper caught in a sudden storm on Blackpool prom."
The story is set in the North Pennines on Black Law Farm is an isolated cottage, Baikie's Cottage.
Businessmen want to open a quarry nearby, and three young women are using Baikie's as a base for the environmental study they must conduct.for this to happen.
When Rachael, the team leader, arrives at Baikie's, she discovers the body of her friend, Bella Furness., who owns the farm.
From all appearances Bella has committed suicide...but Rachael finds that impossible to accept.
Soon two other young women arrive s a part of the and another death occurs,
This brings Vera Stanhope into the story line. We waited a VERY long time for Vera to ever make an appearance. Finally she shows up on page 230.
We were all in agreement that the one of the best parts of the book was the back stories for each of the young women.
There were 6 participants in the discussion with 2 - 5 star; 2-4.5 star and 2 -4 star ratings
Telling Tales Book # 2
It's been ten long years since Jeanie Long has been locked up for the murder of her friend, Abigail Mantel. Evidence has now come forward that proves Jeanie's innocence. The villagers of Elvet on the East Yorkshire coast know this means Abigail's killer is still at large, and the Yorkshire police believe it best to bring in an investigative team from outside to re-open the case.
Northumbria's Detective Inspector Vera Stanhope and her young Sergeant Joe find themselves the investigators sent to sift through all the witnesses' stories to piece together the truth. And what an entrance Vera makes. Emma and her husband are in church with their young child when Inspector Vera Stanhope of the Northumbria police appears in the story. It's right at the close of the first hymn when the back door closes with a bang and our Vera has arrived:
Vera and Joe find many inconsistencies in the reports. Seemingly the instigation was shoddy at best. Two of the leads on the original case left the force and are now living in the area. Both of them had seemed content with Jeanie Long's conviction...even anxious to get it over with.
The murdered girl's father is a businessman and no better than he has to be. Even the victim's best friend spends most of her time in La La Land when she's not drooling over the village blacksmith...and is unsure of what really went on ten years ago.
The ending was not what we were expecting but made sense and was believable,
There were 7 participants in the discussion with 1 /5 star rating; 3/ 4.5 star ratings and 3 /4 star ratings
Hidden Depths – Book# 3
The Book takes place on the Northumberland coast:
Luke Armstrong is a troubled boy who may be slightly autistic.
His only friend, Thomas, drowned several months ago despite Luke's best efforts to save him.
Luke's mother, Julie Armstrong, returns home from a night out to discover her daughter asleep and her son dead in the bathtub.
She first thinks suicide….but there are flowers strewn in the bath, floating on the water.
The police quickly establish that he was murdered.
Detective Inspector Vera Stanhope is assigned the case. Because Vera is plain, overweight, middle-aged, and drinks to a little too much, so it's very easy for people to underestimate her. Just because people dismiss her as a plodding lump, it doesn't mean that she doesn't have a very sharp mind.
The case takes on a new urgency when another body, that of Lily Marsh, a young student teacher, is found floating in a rock pool at the beach, her body posed in the same way as Luke's.
Lily leads a life that is anything but what you expect a teacher to lead…she is obsessive about the men she becomes involved with and Vera believes that she is currently having an affair that may have lead to her death.
Vera's attention turns to the group who found Lily, four men, Peter, Samuel, Gary and Clive….who share an interest in bird-watching.
All deny even knowing Lily and the other victim, Luke.
Vera becomes convinced that the solution lies somewhere in their lives…either past or present.
What if any is the connection between the two victims? Is there one…or have they been chosen at random?
When Luke’s sister, Laura, goes missing Vera’s team must hurry or take the very real chance of finding a third posed body.
There were 6 participants –Carol, Andrew, Sergei, Lynda, Eadie, & Lynsey
Ratings: 3/5 star; 1- 4.5 star; 1-4.25 star and 1 – 4.33 stars
Silent Voices – Book #4
This one reintroduces us to Vera Stanhope who feels a bit guilty that a good murder case always lifts her spirits.
A stab at getting fit puts Vera right in a crime scene this time, at the very fitness center where Vera has been hopelessly doing laps on the advice of her doctor.
As Vera sits in the steam room feeling as usual…very bulky and out of place, envying the woman with the long lean legs who seems so relaxed next to her—a little too relaxed she decides. Well, no wonder… woman is dead.
We see more of the point of view of a woman who is both vain and can’t-be-bothered but is always completely aware of her own shambling appearance and of what may lie beneath other people’s polished appearances.
The analysis and interviewing soon branches out from the fitness center and includes a number of potential suspects.
This is a “locked-room mystery”, at least to begin with as far as the murdered woman’s family and acquaintances are concerned….and soon Vera and are team begin to connect events and people.
The victim has been visiting a woman prisoner with a wretched history and trying to uncover her childhood memories.
Soon, Vera is unraveling a complex plot that leads back to the death of a child whom social workers were supposed to protect.
The larger question soon becomes who was responsible for the death, and what are the long-term repercussions that threaten more lives?
The child died by drowning, and water is the theme that runs through the book – how brief are the few short minutes that it takes for a toddler to get into danger. When floods engulf the district, the dangers intensify.
Inspector Joe Ashworth, a member of Vera’s team and one of the few people she feels close to….understands his boss, and much to his wife’s displeasure… disturbs his family life to work long hours on the investigation as he seems that Vera is energized by murder and soon brings the culprit to justice.
There were 6 participants in the discussion…Andrew, Sergei, Lynda, Eadie and Carol, Lyndsey
We all said of the 4 previous books we liked this one a bit more.
Ratings were: 2-4; 2- 4.5; 2-5
3Carol420
As far as what I'm expecting...I just want another wonderful adventure with Vera and a great discussion with my book discussion friends. I may be a little late getting to the questions. We're going to Kalamazoo to the Scottish Highland Festival. Is that bag pipes I hear???
5Andrew-theQM
Nice to see you Sushicat. I do think in general that this is a series where reading out of order isn't really a problem. You may see a bit of a change in the style of the books from the earlier ones in the series (if it is anything like the last one). This one and the last one were written after the start of the TV series. The last one Silent Voices was the first one to be televised.
6Carol420
>4 sushicat: Good to see you back, Sushi. We've missed you.
7Olivermagnus
I find I'm liking the prickly Vera more every time we meet her. I'm looking forward to seeing what she's up to this time.
>4 sushicat: - Great to see you again!
>4 sushicat: - Great to see you again!
8Lynsey2
I am hoping for my book to arrive from ILL sooner rather than later. :)
I'm also looking forward to another group read!
Welcome back Sushicat!
I'm also looking forward to another group read!
Welcome back Sushicat!
9Andrew-theQM
I'll be interested to see how the relationship between Joe and Vera develops, and how Joe's home situation develop. Will Vera learn to listen more to others and learn to follow procedures more.
I also hope to see a good mystery develop with interesting characters.
I also hope to see a good mystery develop with interesting characters.
10EadieB
I'm interested to see if Vera is still dieting and losing weight. She needs a relationship. Looking forward to once again being tricked by Anne.
I'm at the airport this morning waiting to board plane to Jamaica. I'll check in later once I'm in Ocho Rios with Internet probably later this afternoon.
I'm at the airport this morning waiting to board plane to Jamaica. I'll check in later once I'm in Ocho Rios with Internet probably later this afternoon.
11Olivermagnus
>3 Carol420: - How was the Festival? It was raining like crazy over here.
12Carol420
WET and beyond wet...a literal downpour that did let up occasionally while it gathered strength for the next round. It canceled a lot of activities. I'll have to give us hard-headed Scots credit though...we carried on between downpours.:)
14Carol420
>13 sushicat: Glad to have you:)
15sushicat
@ Carol: could you please change the link for Telling Tales to the book of Ann Cleeves rather than Nadine Gordimer (same title) - sorry, bugs me no end - OCD me showing...
16sushicat
Telling Tales
this is just me trying to figure out if I'm asking the impossible...
this is just me trying to figure out if I'm asking the impossible...
17Carol420
>16 sushicat: Changed. Sorry. I do try to be sure it's the right book. Thank you for pointing it out. I hate when I can't find the right one out of a sometimes gigantic list of books.
19Carol420
>18 Lynsey2: Welcome Lynsey. We'll be here whenever you post. It's a really easy read. Not like Caught In the Light.
